Pneumatic action for player-pianos.



J. L. A. 6; J. W. DE YOE.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1915.

1,220,076. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, I916- 1 $320,076. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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PNEUMATIC AC-TION FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1916.

1,220,076. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE L. A. DE YOE AND JOHN W. DE YOE, OF CASTLETON, NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PLAYER-PIANOS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Jnssn L. A. DE You and JOHN V. Dr. Yon, citizens of the United States, residing at Castleton, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Actions for Player-Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to pneumatic actions for player pianos.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic action of this character wherein all possibility of warping, choking, shrinking and expanding thereof is eliminated, and the use of glued joints is dispensed with, thereby obviating the possibility of the breaking of such joints or the drying thereof to render the same porous, thus assuring maximum suction in the operation of the pneumatic action.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic action wherein the same is constructed in a novel manner so that it will fit in any standard size piano or player piano case, thereby obviating the necessity of changing the size of the piano case or making alterations therein to accommodate the player action.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic action which is universal as it can be adjusted with despatch to correspond or accord with the scale of any piano action, thereby eliminating the neces sity of especially building or constructing the pneumatic action to the scale of the piano action or altering the player action should the pneumatic action be installed from one player to another of different makes and scales.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic action wherein the air chamber is formed with minimum air space, thereby reducing the amount of air necessary to operate the pneumatic action and confining the pressure mainly to the pneumatics so as to assure quick and positive action in the player piano.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a player action of this character wherein the valves are made from metal and in a single piece, thereby insurin accuracy in the seating of the valves and eliminating Warping, leakage or other valve troubles frequently encountered in pneumatic actions.

A still further object of the invention is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed May 12, 1916. Serial No. 97,161.

the provision of a pneumatic action of this character wherein the construction thereof Other objects will be in part obvious and i in part hereinafter set forth.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pneumatic action constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a'rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing one of the pneumatics;

Fig. 7 is a similar view with the top plate removed from the block or body formed with the air chamber;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 form;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view thereof;

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates a board on which is mounted the pneumatic action which comprises a plurality of superposed horizontally disposed rails B preferably made from aluminum or aluminum alloys, although the same may be made from any other suitable material and support a plurality of pneumatics C, each having its stationary member 10 fixed to the under side of the rail B adjacent thereto,

is a side elevation of a modified while the movable member 11 has fixed thereto an ear 12 formed with a sleeve 13 accommodating a rotatable pintle 14 preferably made from leather, the sleeve 13 being formed with a medial slot to provide a clearance for an adjustable hook 16 threaded into the pintle 14 and this hook is loosely engaged in a lug 17 riveted or otherwise fixed to a universal plate 18 which is substantially Z-shaped and is formed with a pintle sleeve 19, in one end of which is fixed a pivot pin 20, while in the opposite end is slidably fitted a companion pivot pin 21 and between these pins is disposed a coiled expansion spring 22 which is held within the pintle sleeve 19 and acts upon the slidable pin 21 to extend the same, the pins being pointed and journaled in pivot ears 23 of a bracket 24, the latter being fixed to the stationary member 10 of the pneumatic C. It will be apparent that by reason of the movable or slidable pin 21 all wear upon the points of both pins 20 and 21 will be automatically taken up and also any wear-upon the pivot ears 23 of the bracket 24 which swingingly supports the universal plate 18. The universal plate 18 acts directly upon a lifter rod 25 which is suitably slidably mounted and is adapted to operate a jack rocker of the piano action so that when a pneumatic collapses then a swinging motion is given to the corresponding jack rocker to actuate the corresponding hammer with a view of sounding the desired string in the plano.

Formed in the universal plate 18 is a slot 26, through which is passed an adjusting screw 27 which serves to limit the throw of the universal plate 18, and on the adjustment of this screw the desired loudness of the sound in striking the string can be had.

Formed in the lower portion of each rail B are a plurality of diaphragm chambers 28 which are closed through the medium of diaphragms 29 from communication with the suction chamber 30 formed in the rail B above the diaphragm chambers 28, and these suction chambers 30 in the respective rails B communicate with each other through the medium of connecting tubes 31 and also are in communication with a suction device of any approved construction, such as the main bellows of a player action. Each diaphragm chamber 28 has leading therefrom a bleed port 32 which communicates with a corresponding passage 33 formed in the board A which extends through a top board 34 carrying a nipple 35 connected by the usual flexible tube 36 with an opening in the tracker board of the player action.

Fixed to the top of each rail 13 corresponding to the number of pneumatics C thereon are plates 37, each of which is formed in its inner face with a valve cham ber 38 which communicates with the corresponding pneumatic G through the medium of a port 39 and also communicates with the atmosphere through the port 40 formed in the said plate 37, the suction chamber 30 in the rail B being in communication with the valve chamber 38 through the medium of a port 41 which is formed in the top of the rail B, and into this port 41 extends a guide 42 having slidably fitted therein the stem 43 of a valve 44, preferably made of laminated felt and metal, the valve 44 being controlled in its movements by the diaphragm 29 for alternately closing the port 40 and the port 41 for regulating the collapsing and expanding of the corresponding pneumatic C of the player action. Each plate 18 has a convexed end 62which forms a rounded fulcrum for the abstract so that the plate when in operation does not slide backwardly and forwardly on the abstract which causes friction and wear at that point, but rolls gently on the bearing surface with the upward and downward movement of the abstract, as will be apparent.

Establishing communication between the suction chamber 30 and the bleed port 32 is a bleed vent 45, as usual.

The diaphragm 29 is fastened peripherally thereof concentrically of the diaphragm chamber 28 through the medium of a clamping ring 46 and fasteners 47 which are passed through the said. ring 46 and en gage in the body of the rail B, as shown. Each diaphragm 29 carries centrally thereof a felt disk 48, against which acts the corresponding stem 43 of the valve 44 so as to prevent the wearing of the diaphragm 29 or the puncturing thereof under the action of the stem of the said valve.

It is, of course, understood that the joints between the rails B, their. top plates, pneumatics C and the valve plates 37 are closed through the medium of leather coverings so as to render the joints absolutely or perfectly air-tight to avoid leakage and at the same time obviate the necessity of the use of glue at the joints which becomes dry and renders the same porous or fragile, thereby resulting in the breaking of the joints.

It will, of course, be understood that when a tracker board opening is uncovered and air passes through the tube 36, nipple 35, passage 33 and bleed port 32 into the diaphragm chamber 28, then the diaphragm 29 moves upwardly, thereby lifting the valve 44 so that said valve opens and uncovers the port 41 for establishing communication between the suction chamber 30 and the valve chamber 38 and at the same time the said valve closes the port 40 to the atmosphere, thus cutting off atmospheric air from the interior of the pneumatic C. When this takes place the interior of the pneumatic G is connected by the port 39 through the valve chamber 38 with the suction chamber 30 so that the pneumatic is collapsed and consequently the lifter rod of this pneumatic actuates the corresponding jack rocker for actuating the hammer and sounding the proper string of the piano action. As soon as the tracker board opening is again covered by the note sheet then the diaphragm 29 returns, and with it the valve, so that the pneumatic C is thrown into communication with the atmosphere and closed off from the suction chamber 30, thereby allowing atmospheric air to pass into the previously collapsed pneumatic to return the same to normal or open position.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 there is shown a slight modification of pneumatic action, wherein each rail B is preferably formed from wood and is made in two sections 49 and 50, the top section 50 being formed with a passage forming a valve chamber 51, which passage has communication through a port 52 with the atmosphere and also communication with a suction chamber 53 in the lower section 49 through a port 54; formed in a plate 55 secured to the top section 50 and extending into this port 54 is a guide 56 through which slides the stem 57 of a valve 58 which controls the ports 52 and 54: and said valve is actuated by the diaphragm 59 closing the diaphragm chamber 60 from the suction chamber 53, the diaphragm chamber being formed in the lower section 49 of the rail B, as shown.

The passage 51 also has communication with the pneumatic D through a port 61 so that the said pneumatic can have direct communication with the atmosphere or communication with the suction chamber 53 in the rail B during the working of the pneumatic action. It is to be understood that the rails D, plates 37 and valves 44 are die castings so as to render the same economical in the construction thereof or manufacture and also assuring absolute uniformity and accuracy. In the stationary member 10 of each pneumatic C are threaded anchors or sleeves 63 in which engage the screw fasteners 64, and in this manner the pneumatic is prevented from warping and pulling away from the rail B and thus eliminating the use of wood screws or glue substance, which are susceptible to atmospheric changes with resultant warping or pulling away of the pneumatic from the said rails and thereby preventing leakage between the pneumatic and the rails and weakening the sticking power of the pneumatic.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, construction and manner of operation of our invention will be readily apparent and a more extended explanation has, therefore, been omitted.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a pneumatic action, a pneumatic having a movable member, a universal plate, a stationary bracket on the pneumatic, a. sleeve on the plate, slidable and fixed pins in the sleeve and journaled in the bracket, means for tensioning the slidable pin, and a connection between the movable member of the pneumatic and the plate to actuate the latter.

2'. In a pneumatic action a pneumatic having a movable member, a universal plate, a stationary bracket on the pneumatic, a sleeve on the plate, slidable and fixed pins in the sleeve and journaled in the bracket, means for tensioning the slidable pin, a connection between the movable member of the pneumatic and the plate to actuate the latter, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of the plate.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE L. A. DE YOE. JOHN W. DE YOE. Witnesses:

FRANK CARTY, NICK O'r'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatent Washington, D. 0. 

